Guy Kinnings, the chief executive of the European Tour Group, has acknowledged that a significant appeals process involving Ryder Cup stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton might not be resolved before the event resumes next September. Kinnings expresses optimism that an agreement to consolidate elite golf could be formalized before then, which theoretically could nullify the case Rahm and Hatton have against his organization. Rahm and Hatton have faced substantial fines for participating in the LIV circuit without obtaining releases from the DP World, formerly the European, Tour. To maintain their eligibility for the Ryder Cup, the duo has appealed against these penalties. They are currently allowed to play in Europe.
This situation presents a complicated scenario for European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald. If Rahm and Hatton lose their appeals—which seems probable based on past precedents—they could be disqualified from Ryder Cup consideration. One potential solution is to postpone the formalities of the challenge until after the US hosts Europe at Bethpage. “The lawyers involved will determine the legal process as to when it gets resolved,” Kinnings stated. “There’s no fixed, set formula for that, so we’ll just wait and see how long it takes to reach that appeal process. In the meantime, the most crucial thing we are also doing is continuing to have ongoing discussions about the future, and those may or may not influence that process.”
Kinnings emphasized that all he has asked of them or any other member is to adhere to the rules of the Tour. “If you work within the rules of the Tour, you are absolutely welcome at a tournament. I was delighted to see Tyrrell at the Belfry [for the British Masters]. It is fantastic that Jon is playing at the Spanish Open. That will make it a better tournament.” He hopes the situation will be resolved either through the appeal or, if developments occur in conversations about the future of the game, who knows how things may adapt. “As long as it gets resolved one way or another, it doesn’t interfere with what we want to be doing in terms of playing the best tournaments, the best schedule we can, making it as good a Ryder Cup as possible. From my perspective, I’m glad that people are wanting to work within the rules as they currently are.”
Kinnings recently joined representatives from the PGA Tour, Strategic Sports Group, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in New York as the various entities work to devise a plan that reunites a fragmented sport. Time is critical here, with golf’s different bodies currently operating on separate trajectories. “Does it need to happen as soon as possible? 100% and I think everyone recognizes that,” Kinnings added. “I think people want to see progress. They all want to get toward a position. We have an opportunity for the game to become united again, to go global, but we for sure need to move fast.”
Matthew Baldwin emerged from a 70-minute weather delay at Wentworth’s PGA Championship to take the halfway lead at 13 under par. Two years ago, Baldwin was working as an Amazon delivery driver. “I remember pulling up to a block of flats, jumped out the van, got in the back and all of a sudden I feel like I’m moving and I’m like ‘oh no, forgot to put the handbrake on,” said Baldwin. “So I’ve ran out the back, ran around the cab, yanked the handbrake up, still wouldn’t stop, yanked it more, it eventually stopped inches short of a blue Fiesta. There was a woman I was delivering a parcel to who watched the whole thing and she said ‘I couldn’t get my phone out quick enough to film it.’”
